About this topic
Apnea means breathing slows down or stops. Prematurity is when a baby is born early before they are due. Apnea of prematurity happens when a baby who is born early has times when breathing stops. The pauses in breathing must last for at least 15 to 20 seconds. This may happen as early as the first or second day after your baby is born. This is a common problem and can be treated. ‚
Apnea of prematurity most often goes away on its own as your baby gets older. Your babys breathing will be normal and the apnea will not come back. In some cases, you may need to watch your baby's breathing at home. If your baby continues to have breathing pauses, they may be caused by some other illness. Talk with your baby's doctor about them. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do to care for your baby.
- Let your baby get lots of sleep.
- Learn how to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before your baby leaves the hospital. This training will help you know what to do if your baby stops breathing.
- Your baby may go home with an apnea monitor. Thin wires are attached to small sticky pads and put on your babys chest. These check movements and breathing. You will learn how to use the machine and what to do if your baby stops breathing.
- The apnea monitor alarm will sound if your baby does not breathe for a few seconds. It may also alarm if your baby breathes too fast or too slow. If your baby stops breathing and does not go back to normal, do CPR.
- Keep the alarm or sound away from your baby's head. The alarm may wake your baby during sleep or may affect your baby's hearing.
- Make sure that you can hear the alarm or sound any place in your house.
- Do not count on the monitor alarm. Always check in on your baby.
- Do not shake your baby to wake up or help breathing. Pick your baby up in your arms. Pat and rub your baby's back gently with your hands to help your baby breathe easily.
- Keep your home smoke free. Keep your baby away from second- and third-hand smoke. Any person in your home who smokes should quit smoking.
- Wash your hands before and after you touch or hold your baby. Tell family and friends to wash their hands.
- Do not let people visit if they are sick or have other illnesses. Avoid crowded and public places.
- Make sure you are comfortable with how to hold, feed, and care for your baby. Ask your doctor if you have questions.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your babys progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help your baby breathe easily
- Help relax airway muscles
- Treat and prevent trouble breathing
Will physical activity be limited?
- Your baby may become irritable.
- Always put your baby to sleep on the back. Do not have a lot of bedding or pillows in your babys crib. Talk to your doctor about a safe sleep position and safe sleep environment for your baby.
What problems could happen?
Your babys apnea monitor may give a false alarm even if your baby is breathing normally. The wires on your baby's chest may fall off. ‚
When do I need to call the doctor?
- If your baby is not breathing, shout for help, start CPR for one minute, then call for emergency help.
- Fast breathing
- Trouble breathing
- Blue skin color, especially around the eyes and mouth
- Very fast or very slow heart rate
- Many monitor alarms
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you about your child. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my childs condition.
- I can tell you what I will do to help my baby breathe more easily.
- I can tell you what I will do if my baby is not breathing.
- I can tell you what I will do if my baby has trouble breathing or a blue color around the eyes and mouth.
Where can I learn more?
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/lungs/aop.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚